The best way to walk with a walking frame depends on whether you are using a standard walking frame or a front-wheeled walking frame.
-A standard walking frame has rubber tips on the ends of all four legs.
-A front-wheeled walking frame has wheels on the ends of the front legs and rubber tips on the ends of the back legs.
Do not use your walking frame on stairs or an escalator unless you have been trained by a physiotherapist and your healthcare provider approves.
Standard walking frame
1. Pick up your walking frame. Do not slide your standard walking frame.
2.Set down your walking frame, one step-length in front of you. Make sure that all four legs of the walking frame touch the ground at the same time. Your toes should be further forward than the back legs of your walking frame.
3.Hold on to the walking frame, and press it with your arms for support.
4.Step your weaker leg into the middle of the walking frame. Step your stronger leg forward to land next to your weaker leg.
5.Repeat this process for each step.
Front-wheeled walking frame
1.Slide your front-wheeled walking frame one step-length in front of you. Your toes should be further forward than the back legs of your walking frame.
2.Hold on to the walking frame for support and press on the handrails as needed for support.
3.Step your weaker leg into the middle of the walking frame. Step your stronger leg forward to land next to your weaker leg.
4. Repeat the process for each step.
Tips
· Always keep both feet within the width of the walking frame's legs or wheels.
· When using your walking frame, you should not feel like you need to lean forward or to the side to keep your hands on the hand grips.
·Make sure you are following any weight-bearing instructions that your healthcare provider gave you.
·If you have a standard walking frame then do not slide your walking frame when you are moving.
·If you have a front-wheeled walking frame then be careful not to let the walking frame get too far ahead of you as you walk.
How to stand up with a walking frame
1. Put your walking frame in front of you.
2. If your walking frame has brakes, place the brakes in the locked position.
3. Slide forward in your chair.
4. Position your legs so that your weaker leg is ahead of you and your stronger leg is bent and near your chair.
5. Position your hands.
o If your chair has armrests, put each hand on an armrest.
o If there are no armrests, put the hand opposite your weaker leg on the chair seat, and put the other hand on the centre of the crossbar of the walking frame.
6. Lean forward and push up from your chair.
7. Rise by straightening your stronger leg.
8. Steady yourself.
9. Carefully move your hands to the handgrips of the walking frame.
Tips
·Do not pull on the walking frame when you stand up. This may cause it to tip.
·Sit in a firm chair whenever you can. A low seat or an overstuffed chair or sofa is hard to get out of.
How to sit down with a walking frame Seat with armrests
1. Move backwards towards your seat, using your walking frame, until you feel the back of your legs touch the chair.
2. If your walking frame has brakes, place the brakes in the locked position.
3. Carefully reach your hands behind you and put each hand on an armrest.
4. Slowly lower yourself into the seat with your injured leg out in front.
Seat without armrests
1. Move backwards towards your seat, using your walking frame, until you feel the back of your legs touch the chair.
2. If your walking frame has brakes, place the brakes in the locked position.
3. Use one hand to hold on to the back of the chair, and use the other hand to hold on to the front of the seat.
4. Slowly lower yourself into the seat.
How to use a walking frame on a kerb or step Stepping up
1. Put all four legs of the walking frame on the kerb or step.
2. Get your feet as close to the kerb or step as you can.
3. Test the steadiness of the walking frame by pressing down on the handgrips.
4. If the walking frame is steady, press-down on it with your hands as you step up with your stronger leg.
5. Step up with your weaker leg.
Stepping down
1. Put all four legs of the walking frame on the surface that is lower than the kerb or step.
2. Get your feet as close to the kerb or step as you can.
3. Test the steadiness of the walking frame by pressing down on the handgrips.
4. If the walking frame is steady, press-down on it with your hands as you step down with your weaker leg.
5. Step down with your stronger leg.
Summary
·Do not use your walking frame on stairs or an escalator unless you have been trained by a physiotherapist and your doctor.
·Make sure you are following any weight-bearing instructions that your doctor gave you.